NEW YORK: Children's Hope India, a NY-based non profit celebrated 15 years of service at the Crystal Ball on Oct 7, at Pier Sixty on the Hudson River. A Tribute to Children marked the non-profit's fifteenth year of dedicated service to children, and to initiating health and education projects in India. Pulitzer Prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri was the celebrity guest besides culinary expert and actress Madhur Jaffrey.

The master of ceremonies for the evening was actress Sarita Choudhury.On the occasion, Children's Hope honoured Raphael and Linda Benaroya, friends of India and philanthropists, with the Lotus Award for their outstanding support of children's causes. The Making a Difference Award was presented to social entrepreneur Benita Singh, co-founder of Mercado Global, who was named among, 'The 15 People Who Make America Great' by Newsweek magazine.

A high point of the evening was a riveting musical performance by the very happening musical artistes - Vishal Vaid and Karsh Kale. A silent auction of luxury items was also held on the occasion. Children's Hope India is a totally volunteer organization of Indian women professionals in New York that has been raising funds for children's causes since 1992.

Funds raised go toward health and education initiatives in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Bhuj, Pune, Jabalpur and several villages in Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Children's Hope Prayas covers an entire slum - Kathputli Colony, on the outskirts of Delhi, which has been transformed by CH initiatives such as informal education, nutritious meals, a health clinic, a computer centre and vocational training for the children, adult workshops and self help groups to facilitate micro-credit and income generation for the parents.

Children's Hope also supports education in the US by giving scholarships to qualified, needy students at Baruch College.